Document ZJDb9aYXqLXQkzva22rdJq280

April 17, 1964 Harold Jacobziner, M.D. Assistant Commissioner Department of Health City of Hew York 125 Worth Street New York 13, New York > Dear Doctor Jacobziner: Your fora letter of March 12 concerning accidents in childhood came to me indirectly from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (John A. WingetJ, Ph.D.) of the University of Cincinnati, and I am impelled to make some reply, rather than to allow the impression to be arrived at that nothing of moment has been done about the problem to which you refer in [professional' circles in Cincinnati. Hie probl em with which the American Academy of Pediatrics has been con eerned is , of course of nation-wide importance, as it has been encountered in Cinei nnati, or perhaps I should say, as it has been appraised in Cincinnati rom the aspect of preventive action, has been much more concerned with intt}:ideations, rather than with accidents as those are usually de~ fined, It is, of course, a natter of chance (or of accident) that a child galns access to poisons of various types in the household. The procedure here, for years has been that of the investigation of cases, and the eveloproent of the mechanisms of a poison center, the attempted disseminh'tion of information through various available avenues, together with leg islative action on the part of the City Council, directed especially at the problem of lead poisoning (limitations of use of lead-containing paint, 1 looling, and authorization of condemnation proceeding-} 72.ted in the City Department of Health, against dangerous premises). A loosely coordinated effort has been participated ip by the City Health Department, the Pediatrics Department and the Department of Preventive r.tedicine and Industrial Health of the Medical College, the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, and others, in bringing these matters to the attention of the public, and in providing information and advice. The effort has not been as completely successful as it might be, if it were to have the concentrated and full-time attention and guidance of a responsible professional official, but it has made favorable progress. V N6073 Harold Jacobziner, H.D. - April 17, 1934 - page 2 The educational efforts of this Department (graduate professional training of physicians and engineers in occupational and environmental health) have been directed toward the entire spectrum of environmental problems, rather than being concentrated on accident prevention. This does not mean, we believe, that the latter has been neglected, but that it has been consigned to its proper place in the general scheme of environmental health. " Cordially yours, Robert A. Kehoe, M.D.